Timer and terminal block assembly



July 17, 1962 D. w. LAVIANA TIMER AND TERMINAL BLOCK ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1959 I i is INVENTOR Dona/0' W Lav/am His Attorney July 17, 1962 0. w. LAVIANA TIMER AND TERMINAL BLOCK ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 15, 1959 INVENTOR. Donald W. Lav/and United States Patent 3,045,091 TlMER AND TERMHNAL BLOCK ASSEh IBLY Donald W. Laviana, Pittsford, N.Y., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 15, 1959, Ser. No. 786,986 2 Claims. (Cl. 200-468) This invention pertains to time operated switch mechanisms, and particularly to an improved terminal block construction for timers.

Heretofore, time operated switch mechanisms have embodied terminal block assemblies wherein the terminals are riveted to the terminal block, which is generally composed of a phenolic condensation product. This type of construction has numerous disadvantages, such as the space required for riveting terminals to the terminal block; the tendency of the rivet connections to become loose when the terminal block is subjected to warm humid air, and the space requirements of terminal blocks of this type such that the terminal blocks must be normally mounted in spaced parallel planes on opposite sides of the cam actuating mechanism. The present invention relates to an improved terminal block construction utilizing sintered metallic terminals which are molded into the terminal block assembly, and to a timer construction embodying such a terminal block assembly wherein the terminal blocks can be mounted at right angles to each other as well as in spaced parallel planes so as to materially increase the number of circuits which can be controlled by a timer construction of a given size.

Accordingly, among my objects are the provision of an improved terminal construction for timers, the further provision of an improved terminal block construction for timers; the further provision of a timer assembly embodying terminal blocks mounted at right angles to each other; and the still further provision of a method of making an improved terminal block assembly.

The aforementioned and other objects are accomplished in the present invention by positioning the terminals in a mold and thereafter molding the insulating material of the terminal block therearound so as to form a terminal block assembly. Specifically, the improved terminal is composed of sintered brass comprising 78.5% brass, 20.0% zinc and 1.5% lead. Each terminal includes a spade connector portion and a mounting section comprising a substantially rectangular portion having a pair of arcuate grooves in opposite sides. In addition, each termianl is formed with a staking lug and a shoulder at the end opposite the spade terminal portion.

Each terminal is adapted to have either a contact carrying strip or a switch blade staked thereto. The specific switch assembly disclosed herein constitutes no part of this invention, the same being more particularly disclosed and claimed in my copending application Serial No. 786,953, filed of even date herewith.

The improved terminal block assemblies can be assembled at right angles to each other, and as disclosed herein three terminal block assemblies are embodied in a timer assembly. The terminal block assemblies are interlocked with and held in assembled relation between front and back plates that are interconnected by suitable tie bolts. A rotating cammechanism for actuating the switches in a predetermined sequence is journalled in the front and rear end plates and is driven through a suitable cam, pawl and ratchet drive mechanism, which may be of conventional construction, from a timer motor.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side view in elevation of a timer embodying the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a view in perspective of a terminal constructed according to the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view depicting the manner in which the terminals are molded in position in the terminal block.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIGURE 1.

With particular reference to FIGURE 1, a timer such as used in washing machines, is shown including a front plate 19 and a rear plate 12 interconnected by tie bolts l t having a plurality of rectangular terminal blocks such as indicated by numeral 16 disposed therebetween and mechanically interlocked therewith by means of tongues 13. The top of the switch and cam assembly for the timer is closed by a plate 20 which may likewise be mechanically interlocked with tongues 18 of the terminal blocks 16. A dished cover 22 is suitably attached to the front plate 10, and encloses the driving mechanism for the cam assembly. A suitable timer motor 24, of the synchronous type, is supported by the front plate 10.

With reference to FIGURES l and 2, each terminal block assembly 16 has a plurality of terminals 26 projecting therefrom. Each terminal 26 is formed of sintered metal having a composition of 78.5% brass, 20.0% zinc and 1.5% lead. The terminals 26 include a spade connector portion a generally rectangular mounting section 3t) and a staking lug, 32, of smaller cross-sectional area than the mounting section 30 so as to form a shoulder 34 which circumscribes the lug 32. The mounting section 341% has a pair of arcuate grooves 36 and 38 formed on opposite sides thereof, the purpose of which will be pointed out hereinafter.

With particular reference to FIGURE 3, the spade connectors 28 of the terminals 26 are positioned in a lower mold half 4t and the staking lugs 32 of the terminals are positioned in an upper mold half 42. A suitable insulating plastic material 44 is molded around the terminals 26 to form the terminal blocks 16. The terminals 26 are interlocked with the molded material 44 by virtue of the arcuate grooves 36 and 38 formed on 0pposite sides of the mounting section 30. The interlocking tongues, as depicted in FIGURE 1, are also formed on the terminal blocks 16 during the molding operation.

With reference to FIGURE 4, after the terminal blocks 16 are removed from the mold contact strips 46 are staked to some of the terminals 26, contact strips 48 are staked to other of the terminals 26, and leaf springs 54) are staked to still other of the terminals 26. The contact strips do carry upper contacts 52, and the contact strips 48 carry lower contacts 54. The leaf spring 50 has a saddle type cam follower 56 attached to an intermediate portion thereof and has movable contact means 58 and 6d at the free end thereof. As alluded to hereinbefore, the switch construction may be of the type set forth in my copending application Serial No. 786,953.

In assembling the terminal blocks to form the switch mechanism of the timer, the terminal blocks can be located at both right angles to each other and in spaced parallel planes as depicted in FIGURE 4. As alluded to hereinbefore, the terminal blocks are mechanically interlocked with the front and rear plates 10 and 12, respectively by the projecting tongues 18 and held in assembled relation by the tie bolts 14. The cam mechanism for actuating the switches in a predetermined se quence includes a plurality of cams such as indicated by numeral 60a, which cams are attached to a shaft 62 journalled in the end plates 10 and 12. Since each terminal block assembly 16 carries both the stationary contacts and the movable leaf spring switch contacts,

the terminal blocks can be mounted at right angles to each other as well as in spaced parallel planes on opposite sides of the cam assembly. This type of construction enables a greater number of circuits to be controlled in sequence from a cam assembly of a given size.

While the embodiment of the present invention as herein disclosed constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A timer assembly including, a plurality of rectangular terminal block assemblies, at least two of which are located in planes normal to each other, front and back plates, each of said terminal block assemblies having a plurality of tongues mechanically interlocked With said front and back plates, and means interconnecting the front and back plates so as to retain the terminal blocks in assembled relation therebetween.

2. In a timer, a plurality of rectangular terminal block assemblies, at least one of which is located in a plane normal to the planes of the other terminal block assemblies, a front plate, a rear plate, each of said terminal block assemblies having a plurality of tongues interlocked with said front and rear plates, means interconnecting said front and rear plates so as to maintain said terminal blocks in assembled relation, switch means carried by said terminal block assemblies, and cam mechanism rotatably journalled in said front and rear plates for actuating said switch means.

References fitted in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,916,485 Manrodt July 4, 1933 10 1,989,522 McWhirter Jan. 29, 1935 2,204,949 Riche June 18, 1940 2,245,369 Smith June 10, 1941 2,294,573 Potter Sept. 1, 1943 H 2,612,887 Mackay Oct. 7, 1952 2,636,949 Hunter Apr. 28, 1953 2,815,421 Gwyn Dec. 3, 1957 2,849,699 Demurjian Aug. 26, 1958 2,857,583 Markley et al. Oct. 21, 1958 2,861,155 Farnham et al. Nov. 18, 1958 20 2,863,011 Mallory Dec. 2, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 945,770 Germany July 19, 1956 

